Lamp changing mechanism for beacons



p 1932- c. H. BISSELL 1,876,840

LAMP CHANGING MECHANISM FOR BEACONS Filed July 34, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR MWM.

ATTORNEYS,

Sept. 13, 1932.

Filed July 24, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Sept. 13, 1932.c;. H. BISSELL 1,376,849

LAMP CHANGING MECHANISM FOR BEACONS Filed July 24, 1929 4SInee-fits-Shwi, 3

INVENTOR ATTOENEYS.

Sept. 13', 1932. c. H. BISSE LL 1 1,876,840

LMHP CHANGING MECHANISM'FOR BEACONS I Filed July 24, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet4 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 13, 1932 warren S AT S PATENT orF eECARL n. BISSELL, or synaousn, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR o onoosn-nmns COMPANY,

or SYRACUSE, NEW YGRK, a oonronnrron on NEW YORK namr-onnnerne MECHANISMnon BEACONS This invention relates to lamp changers for beacons and thelike, that is, a mechanism controlled by the failure of the currentthrough one electric lamp in a. predetermined position in the beacon forshiftingthe lamp out of such predetermined position and another lampinto the predetermined position, and has for its object, a particularlysimple and eflicient and compact lamp changingmechanism.

1 The invention consists in the'novel features and in the combinationsand constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in allthe views. I f

Figure 1 is a front elevation of thislam changing mechanism, the lampcarriage an View taken approximately on line -5,F1gure 3.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of the wiring of the lampchangingmechanism.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic face view ofa beacon showing the relativepositions of the lamps therein.

Figure 8 1s a diagrammatic, central, vertical, sectional view taken onFigure 7. I The-predetermined position of the lamps is with the filamentlocatedapproximately in the axis of the beacon, that is, the axis of thereflector thereof, orthe center ofthe drum shaped body thereof and thelampcarriage shifts in a direction transversely of such axis to carrythe defective lamp out of its operative position and the second lampinto operative position, that is, the predeterminedposition with itsfilamentin the axis of the beacon.

This lamp changing mechanism comprises, i"

generally, a support having a track extending transversely of the axisof the beacon, a lamp carriage mounted on the track and normallyarranged in one position with one lamp in the axis of the beacon,'or anyother predetermined initialposition, a suitable electric circuit havingbranches connected to the lamps respectively, one branch being closedwhen thecarriage is in its initial position and the other branch open,and means controlled by the failure of the current through the lamp inthe predetermined position for controlling the movement of the carriagealong the track to carry the other lamp into predetermined position andclose thecircuit through the other lamp, or the branch circuit in whichit is con.- nected. y r

1 designates the support which is here shown as in the form of a doublebracket having a base plate 2 mountable in the beacon body in anysuitable manner, the support being T shaped and the head 3 of the Tshaped formation carrying the track 4. The head 3 is inclined out of thehorizontal, so that the track 4 is inclined and extends transverselyof-the axis A of the body of the beacon B as shown by the arrow, seeFigure 7. V 1

The track 4 as here shown consists of parallel rods located between thefront and rear members of the double head of the T formation and asmounted at their ends in end bars 5 of the head 3.

6 designates the lamp carriage which is movable along the upperside ofthe head 3 of the T formation and which is provided with depending lugs7 and 8 extending be tween the rods of the track 4 and carrying wheels 9which move along the track. Pref erably, there are two additional rods10 supported within the head 3 of the T formation above and parallel tothe track and over the rollers 9, but spacedtherefrom. These bars '10are for the purpose of preventing the wheels from jumping the track. Thewheels are provided with flanges 11 which lap the sides ofthe tracks-4Land bars 10, which flanges prevent displacement of the'carriage off-thetrack.

12 and 13 are respectively-lamp sockets for i electric circuit.

the lamps 4 and 15. These sockets are preferably sprin mounted on thecarriage and are here illustrated as mounted upon base plates 16, 17,each being slidable on three upright rods or studs 18 projecting fromthe carriage 6. Compression springs 19 are interposed between thecarriage 6 and the plates 16 or 17 and surrounding the studs 18, eachstud18 carrying an adjusting nut 20 which threads upon the studs 18against the upper side of the plate 16 or 17 whereby the sockets 12, 13may be adjusted vertically and also iorizontally so as to bring thefilament of the lamps 14, 15 to the focal axis of the refiector.

Normally, the lamp carriage 6 is located at the higher portion of thetrack 4 and with the left hand lamp 14 in juxtaposition to the axis A ofthe beacon and with the left hand lamp in the electriccircuit, and thecarriage is 'movable by the failure of the current through the lamp 14down the track to bring the other lamp 15 in juxtaposition to the axisof the beacon and also to connect it in the -The carriage 'is normallyheld in its initial position by a latch 21 pivotally mounted on a rod2., extending transversely, or forwardly and rearwardly of the support 1and coacting with a pin 23 on the lamp carriage 6, this pin being hereillustrated as carried by an extension of the lug 7 on which one pa r ofwheels 9 is mounted. It is normally held in its operative position inengagement with the pin 23 by a spring 24 and moved out of its operativeposition by electro-responsive means, as an electro magnet which isencrgized when the current through the lamp 14 fails, that is, when thelamp burns out, or becomes defective.

The latch 21 is here shown as an extension of a yoke 25 mounted on therod 22. The latch 21 is tripped by an electro magnet 26 carried by thesupport between the uprights of the legs of the T formation, thiselect-r0 magnet bein a solenoid 26 and the core 27 thereof being movableupwardly to engage an arm 28 on the yoke 25 when the magnet isenergized, thus'm oving the latch 21 in a clockwise direct on, thusdisengaging it with the pin 23. The solenoid 26 is energized, as will bepresently described, upon the burning out of the lamp 14 and whenenergized, the core 27' thereof moves upwardly, trips the latch 21,

so that the lamp carriage 6 moves down the incline of the track 4 tomove the defective lamp 14 out of its predetermined position and bringthe lamp 15 into juxtaposition to the axis of the beacon. The carriagemoves down the incline of the track partly by gravity and partly bymeans which gives it a starting impulse when the latch 21 is tripped.

This means is here shown as, spring pressed plungers 29 and 30 slidablein suitable brackets 31, 32 mounted on the support and located in thepath of shoulders 33, 34 on the lamp carriage. These plungers areelectric contacts through which the current is carried to the lamp 14,that is, the lamp in juxtaposition to the axis of the beacon when thecarriage 6 is in its initial position. The shoulders 33 and 34 are alsocontacts connected to the lamp terminals. The brackets 31 and 32 areblocks ofinsulation and also, the shoulders 33, 34 are carried by blocks35 and 36 of insulation. As these plungers and shoulders are contacts,the are preferably located on the front and rear sides of the head 3 ofthe T formation in order to be accessible. Also, there is an additionalspring pressed contact 37 carried by the block 32 adjacent the contact30 and coacting with the shoulder contact 34 on the carriage 6.

hen the latch 21 is tripped, the springs of the contacts 29, 30 and 37react and give a starting impulse to the carriage 6 down the incline ofthe track 4.

Similar plunger contacts 38 and 39 are located to engage similarshoulder contacts 40 and 41 on the blocks of insulation 35 and when thecarriage 6 reaches the lower end of the track 4. These plunger contacts38 and 39 are carried by blocks of insulation 42 and 43 on the front andrear sides of the head 3 cf the T formation. The contacts 38, are in abranch circuit connected to the lamp 15.

The movement of the carriage 6 d .wn the incline track 4 under theinfluence of gravity and the spring pressed plungers 29, 30 and 37,

is sufficient to compress the springs behind the plunger contacts 33, 39and a latch is pro vided for holding the carriage in its shiftedposition when the spr ngs behind the plungers 38, 39 are compressed.

45 designates the latch which is mounted on the pivot pin 22 on whichthe latch 21 is mounted and extends lengthwise of the track under thesame and has a latch tooth its outer end for coacting with the pin 23 onthe carriage 6. The latch 45 also has upwardly extending finger engagingpart 47. The spring 24 which serves to press the latch 21 into itsoperative position also acts to press the latch 45 into its operativeposition.

When the carriage 6 moves down the inclined track 4 under the influenceof gravity and the spring pressed plunger contacts 29, 30 and encountersthe spring pressed plunger contacts 38and 39 and compresses the same,the latch tooth 46 moves behind the pin 23 and holds the carriage 6 inits shifted position.

yVhen the lamp carriage is to be reset to its original. position, theoperator trips the latch 45 by depressing the handle or finger 4'?thereof and the springs behindthe plunger contacts 38 and 39 react andpress the carriage .6 up the track far enough to clear the latch andtheinthe operator pushes the carriage by hand up the track, until thelatch 21 again engages the pin 23.

A. tell tale switch 48 is closed by one of the I plunger contacts 39 tocut in a tell tale lamp The windings 53 of the electromagnetv whichactuates the armature 49 is connected in the feed circuit and isnormally energized to hold the switch contacts 51, 52 separated. Thiselectromagnet consisting of the windings 53 and armature 49 is mountedon a bracket 54 on the front side of the support. The latch 21 may betripped by hand and for this purpose, a finger piece is provided on theyoke 25.

Referring to Figure 6, the feed wires are connected to terminals 55 and56 mounted on a block of insulation supported by the frame.

Thevarious branch circuits are as follows, assuming the lamp carriage isin the position shown in Figure 1. From the terminal 56, through wire58, post 59 through wire 60 to the windings 53, through wire 61 to abinding device 62 or plunger contact 29, through shoulder contact 33,wire 63to binding post 64 of one of the terminals of the lamp 14,through the lamp to the other binding post 65, wire 66 to shouldercontact 34, plunger contact 37 wire 67 to the feed wire terminal 55, tothe other side of the source of supply. lVhen the lamp 14 burns out,this circuit is broken and hence, the circuit is broken through the coil53 which holds the switch 50 open so that now, the current passes frombinding post 59, through wire 68, switch member 50, contacts 51, 52,wires 69 through the windings of the trip magnet 26, wire 7 O to bindingdevice 71 on the rear end of the plunger contact 30, through shouldercontact 34, plunger contact 37 and wire 67 to the other feed wireterminal 55, to the other side of the source of supply. Thus, the tripmagnot 26 is energized, moving its core 27 upwardly and tripping thelatch 21 as before described and hence, permitting the lamp carriage tobe moved down the incline track 4 carrying the lamp 14 out ofjuxtaposition to the axis of the beacon and carrying the lamp 15 intojuxtaposition.

Also, bringing the shoulder contacts 40, 41 into engagement with theplunger contacts 38, 39 so that now, the current flows from the feedwire terminal 56 towire 60, coil 53, wire 61, wire 7 2 to binding device73 on the outer end of plunger contact 38, through shoulder contact 40,wire 74, lamp terminal 7 5 and lamp 15, through the lamp to the lampterminal 76,

wire? 7 to shoulder contact 41', plunger con- .tact 39 and bindingdevice 78 thereon,

through return wire'79 to the wire 67 back to the feed wire terminal'55.

. The current also flows from feed wire ter minal 56, through wire 80,tell tale lamp 81, wire 82, binding post 83, wire 84 to the switch 48which has been closed by the movement of the plunger contact 39, thencethrough return wires 79," 67. These tell tale lamps 81 are usuallylocatedon the top of the beacon,

or any other place to call attention of the attendant to-the fact thatone of the lights .has been burned out.

in juxtaposition to the beacon and more firmly supp'ortedthan withoscillating'lamp changers. l

WhatI claim is: 1 i

1. In a lamp changing mechanism for beacons and the like, thecombination of a support provided with an inclined track extendingtransversely of the axis of the beacon, a carriage mounted on the track,a pair of electric lamps mounted on the carriage, the carriage beingnormally arranged at the upper portion of the track with one of thelamps in a predetermined position and an electric circuit in which thelamp'in such position is connected, 'means for normally holding thecarriage from movement down the track and means controlled by thebreaking of the circuit through the lamp in said predetermined positionfor releasing the holding means,

andmeansfor giving a starting impulse to the carnage when the holdingmeans is released.

2. In a lamp changing mechanism for beacons and the like, thecombinationof a support provided with a track designedv to extendtransversely of the axis of the beacon, a carriage movable along thetrack, electric lamps mounted on the carriage, an electric circuithaving branches, two sets of spring pressed contactslocated'respectively at opposite ends of the track, and connected respectively in the branches of said circuit, the carriage having twosetsof contacts for co.-

acting with the former contacts and congagement with the other set ofspring pressed contacts.

3. In a lamp changing mechanism for beacons and the like, thecombination of a support provided with a track designed to extendtransversely of the axis of the beacon, a carriage movable along thetrack, electric lamps mounted on the carriage, an electric circuithaving branches, two sets of spring pressed contacts locatedrespectively at opposite ends of the track, and connected respectivelyin the branches of said circuit, the carriage having two sets ofcontacts for coacting with the former contacts and connected to theterminals of the lamps respectively, the carriage being normallyarranged in one position on the track with one set of contacts on thecarriage engaged with one set of spring pressed contacts and with onelamp connected in the circuit, and means controlled by the failure ofthe current through the lamp in the circuit for shifting the carriagealong the track and bringing the other set of contacts on the carriageinto engagement with the other set of spring pressed contacts, saidspring pressed contacts being in the form of plungers movable in adirection parallel to the track.

4. In a lamp changing mechanism for beacons and the like, thecombination of a support provided with a track designed to extendtransversely of the axis of the beacon, a carriage movable along thetrack, electric lamps mounted on the carriage, an electric circuithaving branches, two sets of spring pressed contacts locatedrespectively at opposite ends of the track, and connected respectivelyin the branches of said circuit, the carriage having two sets ofcontacts for coacting with the former contacts and connected to theterminals of the lamps respectively, the carriage being normallyarranged in one position on the track with one set of contacts on thecarriage engaged with one set of spring pressed contacts and with onelamp connected in the circuit, and means controlled by the failure ofthe current through the lamp in the circuit for shifting the carriagealong the track and bringing the other set of contacts on the carriageinto engagement with the other set of spring pressed contacts, and alatch for locking the carriage when said other set of contacts areengaged with said other set of spring pressed contacts and the springsthereof are compressed.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Syracuse in thecounty of Onondaga, and State of New York, this 2nd day of July, 1929. rv

CARL H. BISSELL.

